Heather White, a Partner at the Federal Practice Group, recently had an article published by Government Executive, a leading national publication for federal employees. Her article – Preparing for a Reduction in Force at Your Agency – was published on March 29, 2017. You can view the full article here.
Ms. White’s article is prefaced by the threat of numerous proposed budgetary cuts and restrictions under the Trump administration. If passed, many non-defense agencies could see steep cuts in spending, which in turn may result in reductions in staff.
Because President Trump’s proposed budget aims to decrease federal funding for agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Education, and State and Labor departments, among others, Ms. White focuses her article on providing important facts and details when it comes to RIFs, or reductions in force.
According to Attorney White, federal agencies may have options to reduce headcount before a RIF by reassigning employees into vacancies, reorganizing in order to minimize the damage, or offering buyouts prior to conducting a RIF.
Ms. White goes on to provide information about RIFs, rules that apply when an agency conducts an RIF, and the rights of employees, such as being entitled to due process and having access to programs such as the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP). As a federal employment attorney who has worked with many agencies and employees throughout the years, she also provides some helpful tips on how to handle challenges or make the process run as efficiently as possible.
Reductions in force are not an easy experience, Ms. White concludes, but there are laws in place to make them humane for federal employees. In addition to these laws, our attorneys at The Federal Practice Group are available to help federal employees learn more about their rights and how we can help them with any employment issue they may face. For more information about our firm and the services we provide, contact us today.
